Bayesian Optimized High‐Figure‐of‐Merit Broadband Directional Thermal Emitters

TL;DR

This paper introduces a high-performance broadband directional thermal emitter optimized using Bayesian methods, enabling applications in infrared camouflage and information encryption.

Contribution

A novel BDTE structure with high figure of merit is achieved using Bayesian optimization and ENP resonance, reducing the number of ENZ layers required.

Findings

The optimized BDTE structure achieves an average directional emissivity of 0.94 and an FOM of 8.087.

The emission bandwidth is extended by 2 μm using ENP resonance and the Brewster effect.

Patterned devices based on the emitter show angle-dependent infrared information for encryption and deception.

Abstract

Broadband directional thermal emitters have attracted significant attention due to their potential applications in infrared camouflage and radiative cooling. However, existing broadband directional thermal emission (BDTE) multilayer structures rely heavily on the Berreman modes of epsilon‐near‐zero (ENZ) materials, usually requiring a substantial number of stacked ENZ thin films for broader spectral coverage. Moreover, the lack of optimized thicknesses fails to achieve the optimal figure of merit (FOM) of BDTE. Here, we have realized a high‐FOM BDTE structure with a reduced number of ENZ layers based on Bayesian optimization. By coupling epsilon‐near‐pole (ENP) resonance with the Brewster effect of the dielectric spacer, we extend the BDTE bandwidth by 2 μm (from 7.9–12 to 7.9–14 μm). The optimized structure shows unprecedented performance, achieving an average directional emissivity of 0.94 and an FOM of 8.087, which are also validated by experimental measurements. Notably, by integrating our emitter with low‐emissivity covers, we develop a series of patterned devices for infrared information encryption and deception applications, which exhibit angle‐dependent distinct, even contradictory, infrared information. This work not only provides theoretical guidance for the design and optimization of BDTE structures but also paves the way for their applications in infrared information technologies.

By leveraging ENP resonance and Bayesian optimization, a high‐FOM broadband directional thermal emission covering the wavelength range of 8–14 μm is achieved by four epsilon‐near‐zero (ENZ) material layers. Moreover, a series of patterned devices are developed for infrared information encryption and deception applications, which exhibit distinct, even contradictory, infrared information under normal and oblique directions.

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